Deficit rainfall in six of the 13 districts has left the farmers crestfallen at the end of the third monsoon month. Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, East and West Godavari, Anantapur and Kurnool districts have recorded deficit rainfall for the season that began on June 1.
‘Troubled times’
While Kurnool and Anantapur recorded a deficit of 16% and 12% respectively, even the coastal districts of Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, East and West Godavari districts recorded deficit in the monsoon months of June, July and August.
Former Krishna-Godavari-Pennar River basins Drainage Board member Yerneni Nagendranath said at this rate the farmers were heading for real trouble because no water would be available when they needed it most.
Pattiseema
No water could be lifted from the Godavari by Pattiseema or any other lift irrigation schemes that irrigate areas outside the Godavari delta after November 1.
There were Government Orders to this effect. The Godavari delta farmers too would not allow it, Mr. Nagendranath said.
He also expressed doubts about the rainfall figures saying what was being released by the authorities was higher than what he observed.
Evidence being
gathered
Mr. Nagendranath, who is the president of the A.P. Raithanga Samakhya, said he was gathering evidence to prove the rainfall figures were flawed.
Even by those figures, Visakhapatnam, East and West Godavari and Kurnool districts have been recording deficit rain for the past two months, Mr. Nagendranath said.
The groundwater position is also extremely bleak with the water-table in 55% area in the State falling to below 8 metres ground level.
Groundwater position
The State government fixed 8 metres below ground level (BGL) as the lower limit for groundwater as submersible pumps that consume more power were required to pump up water.
Groundwater levels are closely monitored on a real time basis with the help of 1,250 piezometers installed at considerable expense.
The farmers are in a quandary over sowing a crop with the reservoirs on the Krishna, lifeline of the State, being nearly empty.
